Counterweighted lowering floor



March 23 1926. 1,578,004

' T. M. BRINTNALL COUNTER WEIGH'IED LOWERING FLOOR Filed-Oct. 29 192 2Sheets-Sheet 1 27 5-- INVENTOR. 7.7% firm/m l W? A TTORNEY.

March 23 1,578,0fi4

v T. M. BRHJTNALL.

CDUNTER WEIGHTED LOWERING FLOOR Filed Oct. 29 1924 2 Sheets-SheetATT6RNE..

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS M. BRIN-TNALL, OF 'LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, .ASSIGNOR TO TI-I EBRINT- INALL 'MANUFACTURING COMPANY, -A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

I COUNT-ERWEIGHTED LOWERING FLOOR.

Application-filed October 29, 1924. Serial No. 746,583.

TooZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. BRINT- .NALL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles andState'of California, have inventednew and useful Improvements inCounter-weighted Lowering Floors, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to lowering floors, such as are used infront of bank vaults and the like.

The principal object of my inventionais to provide for easy and smoothoperationso that a floor may be readily and .noiselessly raised orlowered without appreciable physicalefiort on the part of the operator.

-Another object of the invention is .torprovide mechanism for operatingfloors of .the character described, whereby theaction is practicallyautomatic, and does not require power means or .means forstoring upenergy.

Anotherobjectof the invention is to provide a construction for suchfloors, whereby an entire unit may be built, assembled, and testedbefore being placed in the pit which it is to occupy, and whereby theassembly may be installed in or removed from a pit as a unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and accuratemeans for adjustingthe mechanism in orderthat the point of-mostefiicient operation may be reached immediately the assembly isinstalled.

--Ano-ther object of the .inventionis to provide simple and efficientlocking means for holding the floor in elevated position .so that itcannot descend prematurelyor accidentally.

Still other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and will bebetter understood by virtue of the order of their occur- ':rence.

I have illustrated by the accompanying drawings apractical embodiment ofmy invention.

In the said drawings;

Figure 1, is a view in section, mainly on a line 11 of Fig. 5 of thesaid embodiment, showing the principal part of the operating mechanismin plan.

Fi ure 2, is a View in side elevation of the completely assembled deviceas it would appear before being placed in its pit, or as it would appearas'seenxfrom along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3, 1s a plan view of the complete embodiment as it appearsinfront of a vault relativev to the complete assembly.

Figure 5, isa View in section .seen on a line 55 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6, is a fragmentary view in vertical section substantially on thesame line on which Fig. 2 is taken, but showing only the coacting partswhich form the so called looking mechanism.

Figure 7, is a fragmentary view-in vertical section similar to Fig. 6,but showing only the details of certain coacting. parts which will bespecifically designated and (described hereinafter.-

Figure 8, is a view in vertical section of one corner of a modified formof "flo'or,:showing the details of a part hereinafter known as. theauxiliary guiding means.

Figure 9, is a View in section seen on a line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Figure 10, is afragmentary View. in vertical section of themodifiedconstructionfor the parts shown in Fig. 7

In the embodiment illustrated there is provided a large floor plate 12,carried by arectangular frame 13, of angle iron construction. The frameis reenforced by .in-

termediate cross members or ang le iron 14, to which are secured, as at15 perpendicular angle irons 16. The latter in the embodiment shown areA four in number and provide rigidly depending. members to which arevattached lower transverse irons 18. It will be at 22 and23. Saidlegsand pitcasing-are incorporated in a single removable unit which alsoincludes a rectangular frame 25. Said frame is made up of a rectangulararrangement of channel members 25, 25 etc. Said channels are disposedbelow the pit casing and substantially intermediate of the ends of thelegs. Frame 25, legs 22 and 23, and the pit casing 21, may be assembledas a unit before being set in the pit.

In installing the complete device the said unit is first placed in thepit, together with attached mechanisms about to be described, andsubsequently the floor and the door frame are set in normal positionabove frame 25. The bottom cross members 18, of the floor assembly, arearranged to extend outwardly at each end, as at 27, under the 1011-gitudinal channel members of frame 25. Therefore in installing the unit,said cross members 18, are attached to the depending members 16, onlyafter the floor is positioned. The extended ends of members 18 arefitted, each with a bolt and jam nut, 27' and 28, respectively; the endof the bolt being arranged to abut the transverse frame member so thatthe uppermost position of the floor is predetermined.

A counter weight is provided for the floor in the form of a tray 30,adapted to carry miscellaneous objects 31, so that its weight may beadded to as desired to bring the net counter weight effect to thedesired point. The floor plate is generally surfaced by a suitable floorcomposition 32, such as cork, which is held to the floor plates atsuitable points by short studs 33. Studs 33 are each provided with abore 34, whereby a screw 35 may be employed to hold the floor plate andcomposition assembly to the frame members. In other words, the floorplate and composition are first secured to each other by the studs. Thescrews may then be employed to hold the entire covering to the angleiron frame members. lVhen the entire floating unit of floor, floorcovering and frame are assembled, Ol)]OtS may be add-.

ed to the contents of the counter-weight tray until the total weight isthat of the floating floor assembly.

The counter-weight is operatively and directly connected with the floorthrough a plurality of cables 40, running over grooved pulleys 41. Eachcable is frictionally engaged with the pulley by means of a clamp 42, sothat the cable cannot slip relative to the pulley. The diameter of thepulleys is such that they do not turn much as one half of a revolutionat any time. The pulleys are arranged in pairs on shaft 43; one pulleyat each end of a shaft. Each shaft is held in bearings 44 and 45,respectively, which are secured at 46 to the top surface of thecorresponding frame member 25'. Although notshown in the c rawing,minimum friction bearings should be employed to provide for easymovement of the pulleys. Obviously, with correct bearings, carefulbalance and accurate counter-weight, the floor may be raised and loweredwithout appreciable effort.

The floor may be moved into lowermost position merely by placing onefoot thereon and riding it down. In fact, with carefulcounter-balancing, a very slight weight added on the floor will move itto such position. The pulleys are fixed to the shafts, as by set screws47, and to move the floor to raised position, it is only. necessary toimpart a partial revolution to the shafts jointly. This is done throughthe medium of crank arms 48, 49 and 50, respectively, and links 51, 52and 53, together with a bell crank 54. Crank arm 48 is fixed to one ofthe shafts, while the crank arm 50 is connected to the other shaft. Thelink is connected to respective cranks by crank pins, such as 55.Therefore, the shafts will always operate in synchronism. The link 52 isconnected to the bell crank 54, as at 56, and the link 53 connects thebell crank to a vertically movable push rod 57 The pit casing issupplemented by a lever casing 61, which is disposed around three sidesof the space 61; said space is actually an extension of the pin andcontains the above mentioned links. In alignment with the lever casingthere is provided a small box-like casing 58 for the bell crank 54 andfor the other parts about to be described. A fixed transverse shaft62 isprovided in casing 58, on which shaft the bell crank oscillates. It willbe apparent now that when the floor descends, the push rod 57 willascend. To raise the floor, the push rod 5'? is moved downwardly toeffect the ascension of the floor.

The operation of raising and lowering the floor is practically apparentfrom the foregoing and I will now describe the means by which the flooris locked in uppermost position, so that it may uphold any normal weightimposed upon it. Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, it will beseen that the floor assembly carries transverse members 63, whichproject at each end, as at 64, beyond the vertical members. Said endsare arranged, when the floor descends, to come into abutment with theperimeters 65 of cams, such as 66. The cams are fixed by set screws 67,to shafts 68. In the embodiment shown, there are two shafts; one foreach two cams, the cams being four in number. By means of a link, suchas 69, and pivot pins 70, one cam on one shaft connected directly with acorresponding cam on another shaft, so that the cams and shafts willrock in synohronism.

For the purpose of rocking the cams when required, there is provided apush rod 71. Said red, by means of a pivot pin 72 is connected to a link73. Said link, by another pivot pin 72, is connectedpivotally with '76.Said crank arm i s'-keye'd,"asat 77, to-one of. the rock shafts,wherebydepression of push rod 71, rocks the shafts andmovesthecams tothe dotted line'position shown inFig. 6. When the cams are moved-outfrom under the abutting transverse members, the flooris .free to beridden down to lowermost position. 'The crank arm 76 is weighted, asat 78, and it yieldablytendsto return the cams to vertical position.Therefore, when the floor is raisedto uppermost positiomtlie weightmoves the cams into operative position and automatically locksthe floorin the uppermost position. Stops 80 are provided to limit forwardmovementofthe cams.

The door'jamb of the vault is indicated by the numeral 81. In installingmy automatic floor, the pit, including the lever pit, is extended overto the amb and is of such length that the door 89. is always in the pit,

\vlietliei' in partial or full open position. A

small fixed floor'84c is provided under the open door. The usual bridge85 is provided leading from the 'fioorto the vault tloor 86. Theconstruction, arrangement and-purposes of the bridge,-and the fixedfloor 84 are known to those skilled in the art and is fully set forth inmy co-pending' application, Serial No. 743,030 filed Oct. 11, 1924. Thefloor is narrowed at the end remote from the bridge 85, in order toclear the said stationary floor 84. v

The operation of the complete embodiment is quite apparent from theforegoing description of the operation of the several parts andassemblies just described. Referring to Fig. 3, the operation may befurther explained as follows :To close the vault door, the bridge isfirst moved back into the vault. The bridge may be hinged, as at 90, tothe floor, so that it may be readily moved out of the way of the closingdoor. The operator may stand at any convenient point, such as at thepoint indicated at 91. He places a foot on the push rod and de pressesit slightly to release the cams and allow the floor to move downwardly.He places the other foot upon the floor and rides it. down to lowermostposition. In such lower position the floor will not interfere with theclosing of the door. The operator then may walk across the lowered floorto the door and swing it around to the closed position. IVith the doorclosed, he places a foot on the other push rod and presses lightlythereon. Depression of said push rod acts through the pulleys andattached shafts to raise the floor to the uppermost position, asdescribed. Now the floor is level with the ante-chamber floor 92 and noopen pit is extant.

When it is desired to open the vault door,

the floor is first lowered in'thein'anner just described, the door 15open-ed and the floor is again raised, whereupon the bridge is placed-inposition. Itwillbe apparent now that the fioor maybe raised and loweredwithout the aid of outside power, without stored energy and without theuse of the operators hands. In fact, by treading'first on one-pushrod,then on the floor, and sub- -sequently on-the other push rod, heputs the lowering floor through its complete cycle of movements almostwithout thought or effort on his part, and co-incidentalwiththeusual'task'of opening and closing the vault door.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, thepulleys and cables above described are dispensed with, and instead thecounter-weight pan is con nected with the floor by a balance arm 95.

Said arm is 'trunnioned at 96 in a bearing the other end of the link .isconnected, as at 101 to the balance arm. The parts just described aremerely a substitute for the palleys and cables and do not alter theoperation of the floor. However, the pulleys and cables keep the floorin correct position in the pit and do not produce side thrust. In theembodiment being described, sli ht side thrust is produced. Therefore,rollers or casters 102 are attached to the floor plate, as at 103. Therollers may ride in vertical channels 104, to guide the floorvertically.

lVhile I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my inventionand a modified construction for a part thereof, I do not limit myself toany specific construction or arrangement of parts, and may alter theconstruction and arrangement of parts as I desire or as occasionrequires, without enlarging the scope of my invention, within theappended claims.

I claim 1. In combination with a vault having a door, a pit in front ofsaid vault and door, through a part of which said door moves to beopened or closed, a floor arranged to move vertically in said pit, acounter-weight for said floor, means operable from a point immediatelyadjacent said pit for imparting upward movement to said floor, rigidmeans arranged to automatically move under said floor as it reachesuppermost position; said means adapted to uphold, any normal weightsubsequently imposed on said floor, and means operable to release saidrigid means from engagement with said floor.

2. In a device of the class described, upright leg members, a pit casingsupported thereby adjacent the upper ends of said leg members,longitudinal frame members intermediate of the upper and lower ends ofsaid leg members, transverse rock shafts sup ported by said longitudinalmembers, a floor movable vertically in the space encompassed by saidcasing and legs and above said longitudinal members, a counter-weightbelow said floor movable vertically in said space and below saidlongitudinal members, means connecting said counter-weight to said floorthrough the medium of said rock shaft whereby rocking thereof in onedirection will raise said floor and lower said weight.

8. In a device of the class oescribed, upright leg members, a pit casingsupported thereby adjacent the upper ends of said leg members,longitudinal frame members inter mediate of the upper and lower ends ofsaid leg members, transverse rock shafts supported by said longitudinalmembers, a floor movable vertically in tie space encompassed by saidcasing and legs and above said longitudinal members, a counter-weightbelow said floor movable vertically in said space and below saidlongitudinal members, means connecting said counter-weight to said floorthrough the medium of said rock shaft whereby rock ng thereof in onedirection will raise said floor and lower said weight, and

means for imparting a rocking stroke to said shafts.

4. In adevice of the class described, upright leg members, a pit casingsupported thereby adjacent the upper ends of said leg members,longitudinal frame members intermediate of the upper and lower ends ofsaid leg members, transverse rock shafts supported by said longitudinalmembers, a floor movable vertically in the space encompassed by saidcasing and legs and above said longitudinal members, a counter-weightbelow said floor movable vertically in said space and below saidlongitudinal members, means connecting; said counter-weight to saidfloor t irough the medium of a rock shaft whereby rocking thereof in onedirection will raise said floor and lower said weight, other rock shaftssupported by said longitudinal frame members, and rigid means fixed tosaid other rock shafts whereby one stroke of said other rock shafts willbring said rigid means under said floor to prevent descent thereof, andmeans operable from above and immediately adjacent said floor forholding said rigid means temporarily out of floor supporting position.

THOMAS M. BRINTNALL.

